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H5N1 Bird Flu Spreads to 33 US Dairy Herds in Eight States; Viral Fragments Detected in Milk

Apr 24, 2024, 04:30 PM

The H5N1 bird flu outbreak in the United States has escalated, with the virus now detected in 33 dairy herds across eight states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health experts have expressed concern over the spread of the virus, which has shown the capability to jump from cattle to poultry and potentially other mammals. This situation has raised alarms about the safety of the U.S. food supply, particularly dairy products. Despite ongoing studies, the USDA and FDA maintain that pasteurization effectively neutralizes the virus, ensuring that commercial milk remains safe for consumption. However, the detection of viral fragments in both raw and pasteurized milk has sparked widespread debate and concern, prompting calls for increased transparency and quicker data sharing from U.S. health authorities. Ongoing PCR tests are being conducted to monitor the situation.